MANCHESTER –

They really thought they could outdo mighty Real Madrid? Manchester City displayed all the characteristics of European champions: playing on the edge, showing their best football in intervals, and banking on luck to favor them.

That is what City did, not with exciting football, but with the Champions League mindset. The result? They got Real Madrided.

As the second leg approaches in the Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid seems well-placed to secure aggregate victory over City for a fourth time in the six knockout matches between these teams in the last nine years.

For a time, City looked promising after Haaland’s opener; their aggressiveness paid off. Pundits might note Guardiola’s five center-backs in his starting XI, but they soon morphed into an ultra-aggressive 2-3-5.

However, Madrid looked like the true team with a game plan, ultimately showcasing their championship pedigree on a significant European night.